Combined decorative picture and electric room-heating device

ABSTRACT

A portable device that presents the appearance of a decorative picture which may be mounted at a desired position on the wall of a room, and when so positioned may be electrically energized to warm objects in the room by radiated heat, as well as to cause the warm air in the room to circulate slowly, with the cooler portion of the circulating air being reheated as it rises in the room adjacent the device. There are hanger elements that keep the device from tilting sidewise. A temperature control is incorporated and there is an indicator light to show when the device is operating.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Mearl E. Ellison 2,540,295 2/1951 Schreiber 219/345 X 10337 Beach St., Bellflower, Calif. 90706 2,634,361 4/ 1953 Reynolds 219/345 [21] Appl. No. 1,466 3,061,501 10/1962 Dittman et al. 338/255 X [22] Filed Jan. 8,1970 3,143,637 8/1964 Rifenbergh..... 219/345 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 3,221,145 11/1965 Hager 219/345 X Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 3,453,413 7/1969 Reynolds, Jr. 219/345 640,874, May 24, 1967, now abandoned. FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,713 5/1966 Great Britain 219/345 Primary Examiner-Ralph F. Staubly Attorney-J. Carroll Baisch [54] COMBINED DECORATIVE PICTURE AND 4 ELECTRIC ROOM-HEATING DEVICE 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: A portable device that presents the appearance [52] U.S.Cl 219/345, f a decorative picml-c whihh may be mounted at a desired 219/377, 248/498, 338/255 position on the wall of a room, and when so positioned may be [51] Int. Cl H05b 3/30 electrically energized to warm objects in the room by radiated [50] Field of Search 219/345, heat, as we as to cause the warm in the room to circulate 377, 506; 248/490, 493, 497, 498; 338/255 slowly, with the cooler portion of the circulating air being re- [56] References Cited heated as it rises in the room adjacent the device. There are hanger elements that keep the device from tilting sidewise. A UNITED STATES PATENTS temperature control is incorporated and there is an indicator 737,234 8/ 1903 Hill 248/497 light to show when the device is operating.

PATENTEnum 12 I9?! 3.612.823

Mear/ [ll/:50

INVENTOR.

COMBINED DECORATIVE PICTURE AND ELECTRIC ROOM-HEATING DEVICE CROSSREFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-impart of applicant s copending application for Combined Decorative Picture and Room Heating Device, Ser. No. 640,874, now abandoned filed May 24, 1967 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A portable decorative device for heating a room both by radiation and convection.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past various types of equipment have been devised and used for heating a restricted area or room in a building. While electric heaters have been commonly used for such purposes, they serve to warm but a small, localized area in a room and are expensive to operate. Forced air heating is another common heating expedient used in heating all or a number of rooms in a building, but the operational disadvantage thereof is that the equipment is noisy in operation. Radiant heating in recent years has come into greater use in the heating of homes and office buildings, but the disadvantage of such equipment heretofore has been that it is expensive to install unless initially included as a part of the building structure.

The present invention is electrically operated, portable, efficient, attractive in appearance, and in use, substantially overcomes the disadvantages of prior heating devices of the types mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a frame that supports an assembly of flat elements within the confines thereof, which when electrically energized, heat the room in which it is installed, with the foremost surface of the assembly also serving as a base for heated decorative film.

In operation, the device causes the air within the enclosed space in which it is installed to circulate slowly and continuously, with the cooler air moving upwardly over the film of the device and being thereby heated. Objects in the room are warmed by heat radiated from the film.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a device having the appearance of a picture which is portable, can be mounted at a desired position on the wall of a room to ornament the same, and when energized by domestic electrical power, heats the air in the room to cause it to circulate slowly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that heats objects in the room in which it is disposed by radiation, is silent in operation, requires a minumum of maintenance attention, and may be used for heating purposes at a cost comparable to that of other conventional present-day heating equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a decorative device which can provide the advantages of radiant heating without the necessity of being installed as an integral part of a building structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING the supporting means of the device; and

, FIG. 5. is an end view of the lug of the supporting means for the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The combined decorative picture and heating device, in-

dicated generally at 10, may be mounted at any desired location on a wall 12 of a room 14 that is to be heated.'When the device 10 is so disposed and electrically energized, the air in the room 14 is caused to circulate slowly through a path 16, and in so circulating is heated by conduction as it flows past the device. The device 10 emits heat, and also radiantly warms objects (not shown) located in the room.

As may be seen in the drawings, the device 10 includes a rectangular frame 18, preferably decorative in character, in which a continuous recess 20 is formed in the rear portion thereof. Recess 20 serves to support an assembly of elements, indicated generally at 22, forming a part of the invention.

The assembly 22 includes a rearwardly disposed rectangular first sheet 24 of heat insulating material, preferably fiberglass, of such dimensions as to be adapted to be at least partially insertable within the confines of recess 20. A second sheet 26 of an electrical conducting material, such as aluminum, is adhered by conventional means to the forward face of first sheet 24. A layer 28 of a material having a high electrical resistance, such as powdered carbon or the like, abuts against the forward face of second sheet 26 and is bonded thereto. The layer 28 is also in abutting contact with the rear face of a third sheet 30 of an electrical conducting material, such as aluminum, and bonded thereto.

At least part of the forward face of sheet 30 is covered with a film 32 of heat resistant material that defines a decorative motif on the forward face of the device 10. The film 32 may be an acrylic plastic, or the like.

A single assembly 22 may be used but, if the device 10 is relatively large, it may be desirable to fabricate the assembly 22 from a plurality of subassemblies. For example, there may be two subassemblies 22a and 22b, as shown in FIG. 3. The subassemblies 22a and 22b have the same structure as assembly 22. These subassemblies are rectangular and the adjacent lon gitudinal edges thereof are in abutting contact, as shown in FIG. 3.

There is a central hole 34 in which is disposed a junction box 36 secured to the subassemblies by screws 38. This junction box is well known and need not be described in detail. There is an electric cord 40 with electric wires therein. One of the wires, indicated at 42, branches at 420 and 42b, said branches being secured to corresponding electric-conducting sheets of the subassemblies, while the other branch is connected to corresponding electric-conducting sheets of the subassemblies. The other wire, indicated at 44, branches at 44a and 44b, the branch wires being similarly connected to the other conducting sheets of the subassemblies.

The wires 42 and 44 are connected to a thermostat having a temperature control knob 46, said thermostat being disposed in a thermostat housing 48 on the back of the device 10. Housing 48 is secured to the frame 18, preferably at the top of the device and at one end, so there will be sufficient space for the housing between the device and the adjacent wall 12 on which the device is hung, as will be described hereinafter. There are electric wires in an electric cord 48 leading into the housing and suitably connected to the thermostat and wires 42 and 44, said wires being also connected to a pronged plug 50 which is adapted to be plugged into a suitable electric outlet for supplying current to the device.

There is also an electric bulb or light 52 carried by the housing 48, said light being connected into the electric circuit so that when the device is energized the light will also be energized to provide a visual indicator that the device is energized and operating. The light may be exposed so as to be directly visible from the room 14, or it may be behind the device and light therefrom reflected from the wall, such reflected light being visible by occupants of the room.

Means is provided for supporting the device on wall 12, said means comprising a flexible inextensible element such as, for example, a chain 54 at each end ofthe device, one end of each chain being secured to a bracket 56 by means of a rivet 58.

The brackets are secured to the end parts 78 of the frame 18 by any suitable means such as, for example, screws 60. The opposite end of the chain 54 is provided with a lug 62 to which the chain is secured by means of a rivet 64, said lug being of well-known character and having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced grooves 65 therein. Lug 62 is removably secured to a keyhole bracket 66 which has a wall 68 with a keyhole opening 70 therein. Keyhole bracket 66 has oppositely arranged flanges 72, with openings 74 therein, for reception of screws 76, whereby the keyhole bracket 66 is secured to the room wall 12. The keyhole bracket, when attached to the wall 12, has the enlarged part at the top so that the lug 62 may be inserted into the slot and then moved downwardly into the narrower part of said slot whereat said lug is securedly held, the grooves of said lug receiving side edge portions of wall 68, defining the narrower part of said keyhole slot. Such lug and key hole arrangement is well known. With this support means for the device, said device is held in exact position and cannot tilt and get out of proper horizontal alignment. In other words, the device is securely kept in position relative to the horizontal which is important esthetically, as well as functionally. It is important that this horizontal position be maintained so the air will circulate properly in its symmetrical path 16 and not be deflected into a distorted or asymmetrical path. Also, the device is held at an upwardly and outwardly inclined position, with the top spaced sufficiently from the adjacent wall 12 to provide room for the housing 48 and provide projection of the device from the wall 12 into the room, so there is effective and efiicient contact of the rising air with the outer surface or film for warming the passing air and directing it into the room when the device is energized.

If desired, the support means for the device may be reversed with the brackets 66 secured to the frame of the device and the brackets 56 secured to the wall of the room. Because the device is portable, it may be moved to various locations in a room according to the particular need for heat. Should it be desired to move the device from one location to another, the reverse arrangement of the brackets of the supporting means may be used, in which case the keyhole brackets 66 may be left secured to the wall in various places so that the device may be easily and quickly removed from one set of keyhole brackets and attached to another set at a different location.

A suitable electric switch may be used to control the supply of electric current to the device. When the device is electrically energized, the second and third sheets 26 and 28 are heated due to the flow of electricity through the layer 24. Because of its heat-insulating qualities, first sheet 24 prevents transfer of heat to the wall 12 from the second sheet 26.

The heated third sheet 30 in turn heats the film 32, and air adjacent the film in room 14 is also heated. This heated air rises in room 14 to be replaced with cooler air that is also heated due to its proximity to the film 32. This sequential heating of air in room 14 adjacent to film 32 results in a slow circulation of heated air through the path 16, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The resistance of the layer 28 is so chosen relative to the voltage of the domestic electrical current flowing therethrough that the third sheet 30 and film 32 are heated to a maximum of Fahrenheit. The heated film 32 also radiates heat to objects (not shown) located in the room and warm the same. The third sheet 30 serves not only as an electrical conductor and medium to transfer heat to the film 32, but also a supporting base for the film.

As shown and described above, the subassemblies 22a and 22b are in parallel relationship when the device is supplied with a domestic current of 110 volts. Should only a single assembly 22 be used, the resistance of the layer 28 is so chosen relative to the domestic current supply that a maximum temperature of approximately 150 Fahrenheit is achieved.

Should the electrical supply be 220 volts, the two subassemblies may be connected in series.

Operation of the device with the subassemblies 22a and 22b is the same as when it includes one assembly 22.

lclaimz' l. A portable combined decorative picture and heating device that may be hung on a wall partially defining a room to heat said room including:

a. a picture frame;

b. a first sheet of heat-insulating fiberglass material disposed rearwardly of said frame;

c. a second sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material disposed forwardly of said first sheet and bonded thereto;

d. a layer of electrical resistance material bonded to the forward face of said second sheet;

e. a third sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material bonded to the forward face of said layer;

. means for holding said first, second and third sheets and said layer in a fixed position relative to the rear portion of said frame, said means comprising a continuous recess formed in the rear portion of said frame in which said first, second and third sheets and said layers are at least partially disposed;

g. means for supplying electrical current to said second and third sheets to flow through said layer and heat said second and third sheets;

h. a film of heat-resistant acrylic resin material which defines a decorative design that covers at least a portion of the forward face of said third sheet, and is at substantially the same temperature as said third sheet;

i. means for supporting said frame, sheets, layer and film as a unit at such elevation on said wall that air in contact with said film is heated thereby to provide a low velocity current of air in said room to cause cool air below said picture to constantly rise and be sequentially heated by said film, with objects in said room being heated by radiation from said film, said means comprising a flexible inextensible chain, one end of which is secured to the frame of the device, the other end of said chain having a lug secured thereto, said lug having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced grooves therein, and a keyhole bracket for attachment to a wall, said keyhole bracket having a wall with a keyhole slot therein for reception of the lug, said lug being inserted in the large part of the keyhole slot and slidable into the narrower part with the edge portions of said narrower part received in the parallel grooves of the lug, wherein the device is upwardly and forwardly inclined to provide efiicient and effective contact with the film by rising air to cause air heated by contact with the film to be directed into the room according to the inclination of the outer face of the device, and wherein the top of the device is spaced from the wall and the thermostat means is secured to the backside of the device adjacent the top, the spacing of the top of the device from the wall being sufficient to provide room for the thermostat means between the device and the wall; and

j. thermostat means for controlling the supply of electric current to said second and third sheets and said layer of resistant material; and

k. an indicator light on the device, said indicator light being connected with the electric current supply and energized thereby when the device is energized.

2. A portable combined picture having decorative paint affixed thereto and a heating device that may be hung on a wall partially defining a room to heat said room including:

a. a picture frame;

b. a first sheet of heat-insulating fiberglass material disposed rearwardly of said frame;

c. a second sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material disposed forwardly of said first sheet and bonded thereto;

d. an electrical resistance layer of powdered carbon bonded to the forward face of said second sheet;

e. a third sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material bonded to the forward face of said layer;

f. means for holding said first, second an third sheets and said layer in a fixed position relative to the rear portion of said frame, said means comprising a continuous recess formed in the rear portion of said frame in which said first, second and third sheets and said layer are at least partially disposed;

g. means for supplying electrical current to said second and third sheets to flow through said layer and heat said second and third sheets;

h. a surface-hardened material which defines the area having said decorative paint afiixed thereto and covers at least a portion of the forward face of said third sheet, and is at substantially the same temperature as said third sheet;

i. means for supporting said frame, sheets, layer and film as a unit at such elevation on said wall that air in contact with said film is heated thereby to provide a low velocity current of air in said room to cause cool air below said picture to constantly rise and be sequentially heated by said film, with objects in said room being heated by radiation from said film, said means comprising a flexible inextensible chain, one end of which is secured to the frame of the device, the other end of said chain having a lug secured thereto, said lug having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced grooves therein, and a keyhole bracket for attachment to a wall, said keyhole bracket having a wall with a keyhole slot therein for reception of the lug, said lug being inserted in the large part of the keyhole slot and slidable into the narrower part with the edge portions of said narrower part received in the parallel grooves of the lug, wherein the device is upwardly and forwardly inclined to provide efficient and effective contact with the film by rising air to cause air heated by contact with the film to be directed into the room according to the inclination of the outer face of the device, and wherein the top of the device is spaced from the wall and the thermostat means is secured to the back side of the device adjacent the top, the spacing of the top of the device from the wall being sufficient to provide room for the thermostat means between the device and the wall; and

. a thermostat means for controlling the supply of electric current to said second and third sheets and said surfacehardened material, said means having a temperature control knob and a housing secured to the back of said device along the top edge of said frame, whereby said control is not seen when said device is hung on a wall; and

. an indicator light carried by said housing, said indicator light being connected with the electric current supply and energized thereby to be visible within said room as an indication said device is operating. 

1. A portable combined decorative picture and heating device that may be hung on a wall partially defining a room to heat said room including: a. a picture frame; b. a first sheet of heat-insulating fiberglass material disposed rearwardly of said frame; c. a second sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material disposed forwardly of said first sheet and bonded thereto; d. a layer of electrical resistance material bonded to the forward face of said second sheet; e. a third sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material bonded to the forward face of said layer; f. means for holding said first, second and third sheets and said layer in a fixed position relative to the rear portion of said frame, said means comprising a continuous recess formed in the rear portion of said frame in which said first, second and third sheets and said layers are at least partially disposed; g. means for supplying electrical current to said second and third sheets to flow through said layer and heat said second and third sheets; h. a film of heat-resistant acrylic resin material which defines a decorative design that covers at least a portion of the forward face of said third sheet, and is at substantially the same temperature as said third sheet; i. means for supporting said frame, sheets, layer and film as a unit at such elevation on said wall that air in contact with said film is heated thereby to provide a low velocity current of air in said room to cause cool air below said picture to constantly rise and be sequentially heated by said film, with objects in said room being heated by radiation from said film, said means comprising a flexible inextensible chain, one end of which is secured to the frame of the device, the other end of said chain having a lug secured thereto, said lug having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced grooves therein, and a keyhole bracket for attachment to a wall, said keyhole bracket having a wall with a keyhole slot therein for reception of the lug, said lug being inserted in the large part of the keyhole slot and slidable into the narrower part with the edge portions of said narrower part received in the parallel grooves of the lug, wherein the device is upwardly and forwardly inclined to provide efficient and effective contact with the film by rising air to cause air heated by contact with the film to be directed into the room according to the inclination of the outer face of the device, and wherein the top of the device is spaceD from the wall and the thermostat means is secured to the backside of the device adjacent the top, the spacing of the top of the device from the wall being sufficient to provide room for the thermostat means between the device and the wall; and j. thermostat means for controlling the supply of electric current to said second and third sheets and said layer of resistant material; and k. an indicator light on the device, said indicator light being connected with the electric current supply and energized thereby when the device is energized.
 2. A portable combined picture having decorative paint affixed thereto and a heating device that may be hung on a wall partially defining a room to heat said room including: a. a picture frame; b. a first sheet of heat-insulating fiberglass material disposed rearwardly of said frame; c. a second sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material disposed forwardly of said first sheet and bonded thereto; d. an electrical resistance layer of powdered carbon bonded to the forward face of said second sheet; e. a third sheet of electrical conducting aluminum material bonded to the forward face of said layer; f. means for holding said first, second an third sheets and said layer in a fixed position relative to the rear portion of said frame, said means comprising a continuous recess formed in the rear portion of said frame in which said first, second and third sheets and said layer are at least partially disposed; g. means for supplying electrical current to said second and third sheets to flow through said layer and heat said second and third sheets; h. a surface-hardened material which defines the area having said decorative paint affixed thereto and covers at least a portion of the forward face of said third sheet, and is at substantially the same temperature as said third sheet; i. means for supporting said frame, sheets, layer and film as a unit at such elevation on said wall that air in contact with said film is heated thereby to provide a low velocity current of air in said room to cause cool air below said picture to constantly rise and be sequentially heated by said film, with objects in said room being heated by radiation from said film, said means comprising a flexible inextensible chain, one end of which is secured to the frame of the device, the other end of said chain having a lug secured thereto, said lug having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced grooves therein, and a keyhole bracket for attachment to a wall, said keyhole bracket having a wall with a keyhole slot therein for reception of the lug, said lug being inserted in the large part of the keyhole slot and slidable into the narrower part with the edge portions of said narrower part received in the parallel grooves of the lug, wherein the device is upwardly and forwardly inclined to provide efficient and effective contact with the film by rising air to cause air heated by contact with the film to be directed into the room according to the inclination of the outer face of the device, and wherein the top of the device is spaced from the wall and the thermostat means is secured to the back side of the device adjacent the top, the spacing of the top of the device from the wall being sufficient to provide room for the thermostat means between the device and the wall; and j. a thermostat means for controlling the supply of electric current to said second and third sheets and said surface-hardened material, said means having a temperature control knob and a housing secured to the back of said device along the top edge of said frame, whereby said control is not seen when said device is hung on a wall; and k. an indicator light carried by said housing, said indicator light being connected with the electric current supply and energized thereby to be visible within said room as an indication said device is operating. 